2022–23 LKL season

Betsafe-LKL
Season2022–23
Duration24 September 2022 – 9 May 2023
(Regular season)
12 May 2023 – 10 June 2023 (Playoffs)
Games played224
Teams12
Regular season
Season MVPUnited States Ahmad Caver
Finals
ChampionsŽalgiris (24th title)
  Runners-upRytas
Third place7Bet–Lietkabelis
Fourth placeCbet
Finals MVPUnited States Isaiah Taylor
Statistical leaders
Points United States Ahmad Caver 17.09
Rebounds United States Austin Wiley 8.91
Assists Lithuania Donatas Sabeckis 7.00
Index Rating United States Ahmad Caver 20.33
Records
Biggest home winRytas 118–73 Pieno žvaigždės
(29 March 2023)
Biggest away winLabas Gas 57–94 Žalgiris
(3 April 2023)
Highest scoringNevėžis–Optibet 143–134 Uniclub Casino – Juventus
(22 April 2023)
Winning streak10 games
Žalgiris
Losing streak16 games
Labas Gas
Highest attendance14,077
Žalgiris 97–87 Rytas
(10 June 2023)
Lowest attendance100
Pieno žvaigždės 78–87 Neptūnas
(22 April 2023)
Average attendance1,667
Seasons

The 2022–23 Lietuvos krepšinio lyga, also called Betsafe-LKL for sponsorship reasons, was the 30th season of the top-tier level professional basketball league of Lithuania, the Lietuvos krepšinio lyga (LKL). Rytas were defending champions, however, they finished as a runners-up, losing finals series to eventual champions Žalgiris.

Teams

Location and arenas

On 20 May 2022, during 2021–22 LKL season LKL board decided to expand the number of participating teams in tournament. The number of teams has been expanded to 12 teams. 2021-22 NKL season champions Gargždai and new team Wolves will join the other 10 existing LKL teams.[1]

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Location of teams in 2022–23 LKL
Team Location Arena Capacity
Cbet Jonava Jonava Jonava Arena 2,200
Gargždai Palanga Palanga Arena 1,200
Labas Gas Prienai Prienai Arena 1,500
7bet-Lietkabelis Panevėžys Cido/Kalnapilio Arena 5,950
Neptūnas Klaipėda Švyturys Arena 6,200
Nevėžis-OPTIBET Kėdainiai Kėdainiai Arena 2,200
Pieno žvaigždės Pasvalys Pieno žvaigždės Arena 1,500
Rytas Vilnius Jeep Arena 2,500
Šiauliai Šiauliai Šiauliai Arena 5,700
Uniclub Casino – Juventus Utena Utena Arena 2,000
Wolves Alytus Alytus Arena 5,500
Žalgiris Kaunas Žalgiris Arena 15,415
Prienai Prienai Arena 1,500
Garliava Garliava Sports and Culture Center [lt] 1,300

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Qualification or relegation
1 Žalgiris 33 28 5 2875 2406 +469 Advance to playoffs
2 Rytas 33 27 6 3070 2731 +339
3 Wolves 33 23 10 2851 2599 +252
4 7Bet–Lietkabelis 33 23 10 2834 2689 +145
5 Uniclub Casino – Juventus 33 18 15 2859 2853 +6
6 Cbet 33 18 15 2657 2663 −6
7 Neptūnas 33 16 17 2652 2722 −70
8 Nevėžis–Optibet 33 14 19 2860 2912 −52
9 Šiauliai 33 13 20 2744 2852 −108
10 Pieno žvaigždės 33 8 25 2632 2963 −331
11 Gargždai 33 6 27 2501 2785 −284
12 Labas Gas (R) 33 4 29 2613 2973 −360 Relegation to NKL
Source: LKL.lT
(R) Relegated


Results

Home \ Away LIE JSK GAR PRI NEP NEV PZV RYT SIA JUV WOL ZAL
7Bet–Lietkabelis — 86–84 82–73 74–86 80–73 111–108 86–74 79–70 94–103 91–71 92–96 66–74
— 85–72 — 81–75 73–81 — 95–90 — — — — 87–85
Cbet 88–91 — 92–85 74–85 83–66 71–64 84–77 62–75 74–82 82–84 80–62 75–80
— — 67–65 — — 89–78 — 81–106 — 76–88 74–85 82–89
Gargždai 71–91 68–69 — 74–71 54–73 71–73 79–69 81–99 76–78 68–85 68–73 71–89
65–86 — — — — 73–87 — — 56–60 77–76 85–82 —
Labas Gas 77–96 74–80 68–95 — 92–99 86–98 89–92 66–89 63–81 68–92 78–88 66–91
— 69–72 90–77 — 84–94 — 85–91 86–97 — — — 57–94
Neptūnas 73–86 77–93 94–69 80–75 — 86–79 91–92 70–82 93–79 98–97 100–80 71–79
— 76–70 91–86 — — 97–91 — 86–90 — — 75–104 80–91
Nevėžis–Optibet 73–78 91–83 99–92 89–81 67–71 — 83–65 84–86 81–92 71–74 76–81 69–97
77–90 — — 112–105 — — — — 91–81 143–134 81–88 —
Pieno žvaigždės 71–77 90–92 97–92 115–110 91–85 84–93 — 72–107 75–76 80–87 71–90 59–92
— 98–100 89–78 — 78–87 98–88 — 75–104 — — — 61–88
Rytas 109–104 71–78 102–72 98–77 93–67 88–92 118–73 — 107–101 77–88 76–88 89–85
92–91 — 91–65 — — 99–93 — — 109–84 103–101 102–98 —
Šiauliai 85–88 85–89 92–99 97–89 61–60 95–107 81–65 80–85 — 85–92 107–102 75–93
80–89 73–84 — 114–87 87–89 — 95–89 — — — — —
Uniclub Casino – Juventus 87–84 88–78 92–90 94–76 95–77 84–85 93–77 88–90 85–84 — 81–86 67–78
91–93 — — 86–90 85–83 — 84–81 — 89–80 — — —
Wolves 80–86 94–99 96–82 79–70 79–63 94–73 76–69 89–91 89–78 95–68 — 80–75
70–65 — — 94–58 — — 94–63 — 83–73 106–79 — —
Žalgiris 85–77 76–80 86–74 86–80 77–46 93–75 84–61 94–100 96–60 109–76 90–85 —
— — 96–70 — — 95–89 — 81–75 84–60 92–78 71–65 —
Source: LKL.LT
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.
Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.

Playoffs

Main article: 2023 LKL Playoffs

Quarterfinals will be played in a best–of–three format, while the semifinals, third place game and final in a best-of-five format. [2]

Bracket

 
QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals
 
                      
 
 
 
 
Žalgiris9092–
 
 
 
Nevėžis–Optibet7186–
 
Žalgiris69866695–
 
 
 
7Bet–Lietkabelis58836766–
 
7Bet–Lietkabelis8577101
 
 
 
Uniclub Casino – Juventus738699
 
Žalgiris10871956897
 
 
 
Rytas9394806987
 
Rytas10795–
 
 
 
Neptūnas9991–
 
Rytas828290––
 
 
 
Cbet746785–– Third place
 
Wolves7675–
 
 
 
Cbet8080–
 
7Bet–Lietkabelis8088637584
 
 
Cbet8987825572
 


2022–23 LKL champions
Žalgiris
(24th title)

Final standings

Pos Team Pld W L Qualification or relegation
1 Žalgiris (C) 44 36 8 Already qualified to EuroLeague
2 Rytas 43 34 9 Qualification to Champions League regular season
3 7Bet–Lietkabelis 45 29 16 Qualification to EuroCup
4 Cbet 43 22 21 Qualification to Champions League qualifying rounds
5 Wolves 35 23 12 Qualification to EuroCup
6 Uniclub Casino – Juventus 36 19 17
7 Neptūnas 35 16 19
8 Nevėžis–Optibet 35 14 21
9 Šiauliai 33 13 20
10 Pieno žvaigždės 33 8 25
11 Gargždai 33 6 27
12 Labas Gas (R) 33 4 29 Relegation to NKL
Source: LKL.lT
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Statistics

Average attendances

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Žalgiris 105,346 14,077 461 4,580 +99.2%†
2 Lietkabelis 50,865 3,970 1,099 2,211 +15.7%†
3 Wolves 33,513 3,957 1,145 1,971 n/a1
4 Rytas 39,120 2,579 1,015 1,778 −16.8%†
5 Šiauliai 28,007 5,037 991 1,750 −17.3%†
6 Neptūnas 28,543 4,422 511 1,585 +65.6%†
7 Cbet Jonava 26,844 2,200 631 1,278 +63.2%†
8 Uniclub Casino – Juventus 21,618 2,632 723 1,271 +43.9%†
9 Nevėžis-OPTIBET 15,126 2,195 450 889 +61.3%†
10 Gargždai 10,719 1,313 294 669 +604.2%2
11 Labas GAS 8,030 1,100 155 472 +49.4%†
12 Pieno žvaigždės 5,860 1,250 100 344 −0.3%†
League total 373,591 14,077 100 1,667 +34.5%†

Source: LKL.LT
Notes:
1: Team will make its debut.
2: Team played last season in NKL.

Individual statistics

Rating

Rank Name Team Games Rating PIR
1. United States Ahmad Caver Wolves 33 671 20.33
2. United States Jeff Garrett Cbet Jonava 43 822 19.12
3. Lithuania Martynas Echodas Rytas 23 439 19.09

Source: LKL.LT

Points

Rank Name Team Games Points PPG
1. United States Ahmad Caver Wolves 33 564 17.09
2. United States Deshawn Freeman Nevėžis–OPTIBET 21 351 16.71
3. United States Marcus Foster Rytas 37 612 16.54

Source: LKL.LT

Rebounds

Rank Name Team Games Rebounds RPG
1. United States Austin Wiley Neptūnas 23 205 8.91
2. Lithuania Giedrius Staniulis Gargždai 26 198 7.62
3. Belgium Tim Lambrecht Nevėžis–OPTIBET 35 264 7.54

Source: LKL.LT

Assists

Rank Name Team Games Assists APG
1. Lithuania Donatas Sabeckis Šiauliai 31 217 7.00
2. Lithuania Žygimantas Janavičius Neptūnas 32 192 6.03
3. United States Ahmad Caver Wolves 33 191 5.79

Source: LKL.LT

Other statistics

Category Player Team Games Average
Steals United States Alex Hamilton Uniclub Casino – Juventus 21 2.52
Blocks United States Reggie Lynch Uniclub Casino – Juventus 21 2.24
Turnovers United States Joshua Newkirk Gargždai 33 3.18
Fouls drawn Latvia Artūrs Žagars Nevėžis–OPTIBET 22 5.50
Minutes United States Joshua Newkirk Gargždai 33 32:41
FT % Serbia Stefan Peno Lietkabelis 24 94.12%
2-Point % Lithuania Laurynas Birutis Žalgiris 42 75.46%
3-Point % United States Kevarrius Hayes Žalgiris 42 50.00%
Lithuania Julius Jucikas Pieno žvaigždės 20

Source: LKL.LT


Individual game highs

Category Player Team Opponent Statistic
Rating Belgium Tim Lambrecht Nevėžis–OPTIBET Labas Gas (Mar 25, 2023) 45
Points Lithuania Mindaugas Girdžiūnas Neptūnas Nevėžis–OPTIBET (Dec 12, 2022) 40
Rebounds United States Austin Wiley Neptūnas Labas Gas (Dec 21, 2022) 24
Assists Lithuania Donatas Sabeckis Šiauliai Nevėžis–OPTIBET (May 8, 2023) 14
Steals Lithuania Evaldas Šaulys Pieno žvaigždės Uniclub Casino – Juventus (Dec 22, 2022) 7
United States Alex Hamilton Uniclub Casino – Juventus Žalgiris (Feb 15, 2023)
Blocks United States Reggie Lynch Uniclub Casino – Juventus Labas Gas (Mar 18, 2023) 9

Source: LKL.LT


Team statistics

Category Team Average
Rating Rytas 105.98
Points Rytas 91.84
Rebounds Rytas 37.88
Assists Žalgiris 20.70
Steals Cbet Jonava 8.93
Blocks Neptūnas 3.23
Turnovers Uniclub Casino – Juventus 15.78
FT % Žalgiris 78.55%
2-Point % Žalgiris 60.32%
3-Point % Wolves 38.08%

Source: LKL.LT

Awards

All official awards of the 2022-23 LKL season.

Regular Season MVP

Pos. Player Team Source
PG United States Ahmad Caver Wolves [3]

LKL Finals MVP

Pos. Player Team Source
PG United States Isaiah Taylor Žalgiris [4]

All-LKL Team

Pos. Player Team Source
PG United States Ahmad Caver Wolves [4]
SG United States Marcus Foster Rytas
SF United States Jeffery Garrett Cbet Jonava
PF Lithuania Martynas Echodas Rytas
C Lithuania Laurynas Birutis Žalgiris

Coach of the Year

Coach Team Source
Lithuania Virginijus Šeškus Cbet Jonava [4]

Breakthrough of the Year

Player Team Source
Lithuania Matas Jogėla Neptūnas [4]

Referee of the year

Referee Source
Lithuania Gytis Vilius [4]

"Fair play" award for gentlemanliness in sport and life

Team Source
Žalgiris [4]

Player of the month

Month Player Team PIR Source
2022
October United States Jeff Garrett Cbet Jonava 19.8 [5]
November Lithuania Giedrius Staniulis Gargždai 23.5 [6]
December Lithuania Gytis Radzevičius Rytas 25.7 [7]
2023
January Lithuania Martynas Echodas Rytas 27 [8]
February United States Deshawn Freeman Nevėžis–OPTIBET 28 [9]
March Belgium Tim Lambrecht Nevėžis–OPTIBET 31.5 [10]
April Belgium Tim Lambrecht Nevėžis–OPTIBET 22.9 [11]

Lithuanian clubs in European competitions

Team Competition Progress
Žalgiris EuroLeague Playoffs
Lietkabelis EuroCup Eighthfinals
Rytas Champions League Round of 16
Šiauliai Qualifying rounds
Cbet Jonava FIBA Europe Cup Qualifying rounds
Wolves Qualifying rounds

Lithuanian clubs in Regional competitions

Team Competition Progress
Wolves European North Basketball League Runners-up
Šiauliai Regular Season

References

  1. ^ "LKL Valdyba nubalsavo – kitais metais „Betsafe-LKL" čempionate rungtyniaus 12 komandų". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 20 May 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  2. ^ "„Betsafe-LKL" atkrintamosios prasidės gegužės 12 d." lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 4 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  3. ^ "„Betsafe-LKL" reguliariojo sezono MVP – „Wolves" vedlys A. Caveris". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Išdalinti jubiliejinio „Betsafe-LKL" sezono apdovanojimai: finalo serijos MVP tapo I. Tayloras, metų treneris – V. Šeškus". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Iš spalio MVP tapusio J. Garretto lūpų – liaupsės V. Šeškui bei Jonavai: „Man tai tobula situacija"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 4 November 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Lapkričio MVP tapęs G. Staniulis prie asmeninės sėkmės trokšta pridėti ir komandinę: „Nepagauname fortūnos"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 5 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Gruodžio MVP – su išaugusiu vaidmeniu puikiai susitvarkęs G. Radzevičius: „Nuo sezono pradžios buvau tam pasiruošęs"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 2 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Mėnesio MVP tapęs M. Echodas – apie dėkingumą E. Fridrikssonui, dviprasmišką „Ryto" sausį ir NBA bokštų patarimus". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  9. ^ "„Betsafe-LKL" vasario MVP – vos pusantro mėnesio Kėdainiuose praleidęs D. Freemanas". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 24 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Kovo MVP – T. Lambrechtas: „Jutau, kad svarbi rolė kris ir ant manęs"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 2 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Antrą mėnesį paeiliui MVP tapęs T. Lambrechtas rengiasi mūšiui dėl atkrintamųjų: „Žaidimas namuose – mūsų pranašumas"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.